Valve for air-compressors.



To all whom it' may concern:

. UNYTED STATES YDATENTOEIMOE.

THOMASE. STURTEVANT, OE DOVER, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR To MCKIERNAN DRILL COMPANY, `OE DOvER, NEw JERSEY.

VALVE Fon Am-ooMPREssoRs.-

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 2o, 1906.

'Application filed 'April 9, 1903.v Serial No. 151,849.

Beit known that I, THOMAS E. STURTEVANT, a citizen of the United States, residing in the town of Dover, county lof Morris, State of New Jersey, have'invented certain new and useful Improvements in Valve Mechanism for Pneumatic Engines or Air-Compressors,

pneumatic engines or air-compressors; and it consists oi the combinations and parts hereinaiter more particularly described.

In order to obtain the greatest eHiciency in engines of this type, it is necessary that the opening and 'closing of the inlet-valves be accurately eHeoted both as to time and manner of operation. -For this purpose it is desirable that the closing of the valve be positively brought about by having the same mechanically connected with some moving part of the apparatus, and it is also -necessary to provide means for4 the prevention of hammering and consequent breakage liable to occur'in the operation of the compressor.

" My invention therefore consists in a oomjpressor valve mechanism which is not only positive and eiiicient in operation, but which is ,so arranged that all hammerin and violent contact of parts is prevente whereby great efficiency of operationis obtained an Abreakage reduced to a minimum.

The accompanying drawing, which illus-` trates `one form of my invention, represents a longitudinal sectional view of one end of a compressor-cylinder, showing one of the inletvalves, it beingunderstood that the other end .thereof is a duplicate'oi that shown, the two valves, however, working reciprocally, one being opened while the othervis being closed., A i'ull view of both ends ofthe cylin-l Ader is unnecessary, as the valves and mechanism at each end of the cylinder are identical. i v

In the drawing, A indicatesthe inlet-valve @,the valve-seat b, the valve-.stem,preierably made in- One piece; c, the sleeve-nut or cushioning-cylinder ld, thej am orlock nut; e, the iiber packing or washer; f, 'the' cushion-chamber, and g the hub or journal for the valvestem, which eXtendsdown through the valveseat a and is connected to the valve-seat lby webs, The bar connects the connecting- `rod tito the operating sleeve or cylinder h,

said sleeve having a limited sliding movement upon the neck of the sleeve-nut c, as is indicated at g g. The connecting-rod 'i has a -v carries a journal or bearing p, having a limited play or sliding movement on'a tappetrod Z. This ta pet-rod is connected to some moving part oi) the mechanism ofthe compressor in sucha way as to have a movement that'will close the inlet-valve of the opposite end of the cylinder as the iston reaches the en'd of the stroke. connect the tappet-rod -that it will have a comparatively short stroke. The inlet-valves, aswill be readily seen", are adapted to be opened by atmospheric ressure created as begins yto travel.

soon as the piston-hea away from the opening valve.

For the purpose of preventing hammeringand violent contact between the parts upon the opening of the valve, as above described,

I have provided a. cushioning means as follows: The sleeve-nut which is screwed upon the kvalve-stem l) has an enlarged recess or cylinder located at its lower end. This cylinder is-so adjusted as to iit snugly over the upperend o :the valve-stem journal and forms therewith a cushion-chamber f. The cylinder-walls are so proportioned with respect toV the 'length of stroke of the pistonstem that they always embrace the upper endof the valve-stem, and the cushion-chamber, therefore, merely varies in size according to the position of the valve-stem.

In order to regulate the action of this inletvalve, I drill through the sleevenut c into the cushion-chamberf small holes r r in such numberas may be found necessary to permit of the proper escape oil the air and the prompt action of thevalve, the object being to allow the air to escape from the cushionchamber with such a degree of rapidity'as willnot destroy the cushionand at thesame time will allow the inlet Voi air tothe com ressionchamber, and so not hinder the opening of the valve and stem. By adjusting these holes r r Ain thel proper number and at the proper It is a so desirable to so A IOO,

place or laces in the sleeve-nut it will be observed t at as the space between the. hub or journal g and the upper inner shoulder of the sleeve c is reduced by the movement of the valve and stem inward a number of openings r r will iirst be closed by the action of the said sleeve-nut c sliding over the hub and iinally a closing of the inner openings r r is brought about. By adjusting these holes properly the hammering and noise incident to the operation of these valves are practically done away with.

As will be readily understood, the valve is closed by means of the upward movement of the tappet and connecting-rods 0, i, and j, the sleeve h, connected to the latter rod, bearing against the under side of the washer beneath the lock-nut d. Before the time arrives for the valve to open the tappet and connecting-rods and sleeve h have made a short downward movement, and upon the formation of a vacuum in the cylinder by the downward stroke of the piston the valve springs open by reason of the atmospheric pressure; but its i'ull opening is retarded and prevented by the air-cushion formed in the chamberf.

The tappet or operating-rod Z is provided on each side of sliding bearing p with encir` cling cushioning-springs attached at their inner ends to collars loose upon said tappet and at their outer ends to collars secured upon said tappet by set-screws.

It is obvious that many changes and modiiications may be made in my invention from the exact form shown and described, and I do not limit myself to this particular construction; but g What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A valve mechanism for air-compressors comprising a valve, a valve-stem, and a valvestem journal, said valve provided with aircushioning means for retarding the opening thereof, comprising a cylindrical sleeve on the valve-stem and a co erating abutment on the valve-stem journa a tappet or operating-rod, a connecting-rod having a yielding connection with the operating-rod and an operative connection between said connectingrod and valve-stem, whereby the connectingrod has a free movement in one direction without operating the valve.

2. A valve mechanism for air-compressors comprising avalve, a valve-stem, and a valvestem journal, said valve provided with aircushioning means for retarding the opening thereof, comprising a cylindrical sleeve on the valve-stem and a coperating abutment on the valve-stem journal, a tappet or operating-rod, a connecting-rod, a link or arm on said connecting-rod having a sliding connection with said operating rod, cushioningsprings on said operating-rod upon opposite sides of said link connection, and a second arm rigidly secured to said connecting-rod and having a sliding connection with said valve-stein whereby the connecting-rod. has a free movement in one direction without operating the valve.

3. A valve mechanism for air-compressors comprising a valve-seat, a valve-stem, a valve-stem journal, a sleeve-nut on said stem having an enlarged recessed portion which coperates with the head of the valve-stem journal to form a cushionchamber, a reduced portion or neck on said sleeve-nut a lock-nut on the end of said valve-stem, and an operating sleeve or rod sliding on said neck for operating said valve-stem and means for operating said sleeve.

4. A valve mechanism for air-compressors comprising a valve-seat, a valve-stem, a valve-stem journal, a sleeve-nut on said stem having an enlarged. recessed portion which coperates with the head of the valve-stem journal to form a cushion-chamber, a reduced portion or neck on said sleeve-nut, a lock-nut on the end of said valve-stem, an operating sleeve or rod sliding on said neck for operatino' said valve-stem and means for operating sald sleeve, and perforations communicatin r with said cushion-chamber ior the graduatl escapement of air confined therein.

5. A valve mechanism for air-compressors comprising a tappet or operating-rod, a connecting-rod having a yielding connection with the operating-rod, an inlet-valve having a valve-seat, a valve-stem, a valve-stem journal, a sleeve-nut on said stem having an enlarged recessed portion which coperates with the head of the valve-stem journal to form a cushion-chamber, a reduced portion or neck on said sleeve-nut, a lock-nut on the end of said valve-stem, and an operative connection between said connecting-rod and said valvestem whereby the connecting-rod has a free movement in one-direction without operating the valve.

6. A valve mechanism for air-com ressors comprising a tappet or operating-ro( a connecting-rod, a link on said connecting-rod and having a sliding connection with said operating-rod, cushioning-springs on said operating-rod upon opposite sides of said link connection, an inlet-valve having a valve-seat, a

valve-stem, a valve-stem journal, a sleevenut on said stem having a reduced portion or neck and an enlarged recessed portion which coperates with the head of' the valve-stem journal to form a cushion-chamber, a locknut on the end of said valve-stem, and a second arm rigidly secured to said connectingrod and having a sliding connection with said valve-stem whereby the connecting-rod has a i'ree movement in one direction without operating the valve.

7. A valve mechanism for air-compressors comprising a tappet or operating-rod, a connecting-rod, a link on said connecting-rod and having a sliding connection with said operating-rod, cushioning-springs on said oper- TOO ITO

ating-rod uponopposite' sides of said link connection, an inletvalve having a valve-seat, a valve-stem, a valve-stem journal,l a sleevenut on said stem having a reduced portion or neck, and an'enlarged recessed portion which coperates with the head of the .valve-stem journal to form a cushiori-chamber7 a locknut on the end of said valve-stem, a second arm rigidly secured to saidconnecting-rod and having a sliding connection withY said valve-stem whereby the connecting-rod has a free movement in one direction Withoilt `01o- .erating the valve, and a series of perforations in said cushion-chamber for the partial escapement or air confined therein. l In testimony Vwhereof I have sined my name-in the presence of two subscri ing Wit- 

